Some brgy. chairmen in Manila tested positive for drugs –Erap

Manila Mayor Joseph "Erap" Estrada on Tuesday confirmed that some barangay chairmen were tested positive for drug use after undergoing mandatory drug test last November 7.

Estrada ordered the drug testing of 7,168 elected barangay officials in the country's capital — from chairmen to kagawad — as part of the government's continuing war on illegal drugs.

According to him, initial results from Manila Health Department (MHD) showed that some elected barangay officials are indeed drug users.

"Apparently there were some [who tested positive]," Estrada said in a statement. "I don't know the exact number yet."

Estrada said those who tested positive for illegal drug use will undergo confirmatory testing at the East Avenue Medical Center.

MHD chief Dr. Benjamin Yson said barangay chairmen who tested positive can't refuse the confirmatory drug test. He also clarified that the mandatory drug test is still ongoing and only 60 percent of the 896 barangay chairmen have been tested.

"The process is till ongoing, basta tatapusin namin 'yan," Yson said. "But I cannot give specific date kung kelan kasi 'yun naman talaga ang gusto ni President Mayor, that all punong barangay, all barangay chairmen, at least the chairmen, should be drug-free."

Estrada said officials tested positive will face appropriate criminal and administrative charges.

"They should prepare for the consequences. They know I'm not bluffing. Drug addicts simply have no place in the government,"  he said.

In accordance with the Civil Service Commision, Executive Order 292 or the Administrative Code of 1987, and the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Acts of 2002, barangay officials who tested positive on the confirmatory test shall be subjected to disciplinary preceedings with a penalty of dismissal from service at first offense face.

Estrada, Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna and the 36-member city council have also undergone drug testing and none was tested positive last August 18.

The mandatory drug test was also an offshoot of last October's anti-drug operation at the Islamic Center, Quiapo, where Barangay 648 Chairman Faiz Macabato, who was linked to illegal drugs, was one of the seven people killed in the police raid.

Last week, Duterte met with over a thousand of mayors to discuss his campaign on illegal drugs. —Marlly Rome C. Bondoc/KBK, GMA News